Registering mechanism



Oct. 17, 1939. c, WALKER 2,176,828

REGISTERING MECHANISM Filed March 22, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet l aim- 5 Get. 17, 1939. L ER 2,176,828

REGISTER ING MECHANISM Filed March 22, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 u u 1min @54 11 411 Mani Oct. 17, 1939.

C. WALKER REGISTERING MECHANISM Filed March 22, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Calvs/ j/fer Oct. 17, 1939. c. WALKER REGISTERING MECHANISM Filed Mar ch 22, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jg I Patented Oct. 17, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REGISTERING MECHANISM Charles Walker, Knoxville, Tenn. Application March 22, 1938, Serial No. 197,450

14 Claims.

My invention consists in new and useful improvements in liquid dispensing apparatus and relates more particularly to filling station pumps, having for its object to provide registering mech- 6 anism for indicating thecost, volume and price,

respectively, of the liquid dispensed.

It is another object of my invention to provide a. registering mechanism in the form of tapes carrying suitable indicia thereon adapted to be progressively advanced past a suitable window opening in the casing of the apparatus.

A further object of my invention is to provide means for automatically returning the tapes to normal position after each operation of the pump.

Still another object resides in mechanism for preventing overrunning of the register tapes past their normal operating positions.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the novel features hereinafter set forth, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, in which numerals of like character designate similar parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary front view partly in section of a filling station pump illustrating the registering mechanism which forms part of my invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional .of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail showing a modification of the brake applying switch in the form of contact rollers.

Figure 5 is a similar view of a slightly modified form of switch.

Figure 6 is a detail view of the braking mechanism for the sprocket drums.

Figure '7 is a detail view of another form of braking mechanism cooperating with the tapes.

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail of a modified form of register tapes.

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view through the lower portion of the casing illustrating the tension springs about the cores of the lower spools.

Figure 10 is a transverse section taken on line Ill-l of Fig. 9.

Figure 11 is a vertical section through the lower portion of the casing illustrating a modified form of winding mechanism for the lower spools.

6 Figure 12 is an enlarged sectional detail view view taken on line 2-2 of a modified form of my invention for magnifying the indicia on the tapes, and

Figure 13 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical hook-up.

In the drawings, i represents the casing of a filling station pump having the conventional gasoline discharge conduit 2 in the upper portion thereof leading from the pump (not shown) to the sight gauge 3 and the delivery hose 4, the latter terminating in a nozzle 5 provided with the conventional valve (not shown).

6 designates a horizontal shaft which extends transversely across a portion of the casing adjacent its upper end, said shaft being mounted in suitable supports 1 and keyed therein by suitable 15 pins 8. A spool 9 is rotatably mounted on the shaft adjacent one end thereof and has wound thereon the upper end of a volume tape l0 provided with indicia or graduations for progressively indicating the volume of the gasoline dispensed. The other end of the tape extends downwardly from the spool 9 and is secured to a lower spool ll rotatably carried on a shaft l2 transversely mounted in the casing in supports l3 at a suitable point below shaft 6. Another tape I4 provided with indicia for progressively indicating the total cost of the gasoline dispensed is wound at one end on a second spool l5 rotatably mounted on the upper shaft 6, its other end extending downwardly and being secured to a second spool 0 it carried by the lower shaft l2. Each of the tapes Ill and I4 is provided with a stop opening I! for the purpose hereinafter set forth.

l8 represents a hollow shaft mounted transversely in the casing l in suitable bearings I9 intermediate the upper and lower spool shafts G and i2, respectively. This shaft is provided adjacent one end thereof with a bevel gear 20 keyed thereto and meshing with one face of a double bevel 2| mounted on a short shaft 22 which extends transversely to the hollow shaft IS. The other face of the double bevel meshes with a bevel gear 23 provided on the upper end of the operating shaft 24 for the pumping mechanism (not shown).

Adjacent the bevel gear 20 and along one edge of the volume tape iii, the hollow shaft carries a gear 25 meshing with a gear 26 mounted on a short transverse shaft 21 located immediately below shaft l8 and rotating in bearings 28. Gear 50 26 in turn meshes with another gear '29 keyed on a second transverse shaft 30 adjacent one end of. the latter, which shaft extends across the back of the tapes l0 and I4 and is supported in suitable bearings 3| in the casing. The other end 56 similar to gear 28. These two gears 28 and 32 are adapted to mesh with complementary pinions 33 and 33, respectively, carried by a transverse shaft 38 mounted at one end in a suitable bearing 38 on the side wall of the casing, its other end terminating in a plunger 31 adapted to reciprocate in a solenoid 38. A spring 38 normally forces the plunger and shaft outwardly toward the left, as shown in- Fig. 1, thereby maintaining the pinions 33 and 33 in mesh with their respective gears 28 and 32. The pinions 33 and 33 are also adapted to mesh with gears 38 and 3|, respectively, provided on the spools H and I8.

Thus, when the pump operating shaft 23 rotates, the lower spools H and I8 will simultaneously be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction (Fig. 2) through the medium of the above described train of gears to wind the tapes l8 and I3 on their respective lower spools.

A rod 32 extends into the hollow portion of shaft I8 and projects outwardly at one end through the side wall of the casing in abutting engagement with a hook member 33 pivoted to the outside wall of. the casing l for supporting the nozzle 8 of the delivery hose. This rod 32 is adapted to reciprocate in the hollow shaft and is normally forced outwardly by means of a spring 33 cooperating with a suitable stop pin 38 on the rod, adjacent its inner end.

At a suitable point adjacent the volume tape I8, I provide a gear 38 freely mounted on the hollow shaft l8 and adapted to slide longitudinally with the rod 32 by means of a pin 31 extending transversely from the rod through longitudinal slots in the hollow shaft l8. This gear 38 is adapted to engage and disengage complementary gear 38 of a sprocket drum 38 mounted on a transverse shaft 88 immediately above the shaft l8. Another gear 8| is similarly mounted on the hollow shaft and adapted to slide longitudinally with the inner rod 32 by means of the transverse pin 52 operating in longitudinal slots 83 in the hollow shaft l8. This second gear is adapted to mesh with another gear 83 of a second sprocket drum 88 mounted on the shaft 88 immediately back of the cost tape 3. It will thus be seen that when the nozzle of the hose is on the hook, rod 32 will be moved inwardly to disengage gears 38 and 8| from the sprocket gears 38 and 83, re-

spectively, but that upon removal 'of the nozzle from the hook 33, the spring 33 will force the rod outwardly to permit engagement of the gears 38 and 8| with their respective sprocket gears.

The periphery of each of the sprocket drums 38 and 88 is provided with two rows of teeth 88 (Fig. 2) adapted to cooperate with complementary spaced rows of openings 81 along the vertical edges of the tapes. With the nozzle oil the hook and the gears 38 and 8| in mesh with the sprocket gears 38 and-83, respectively, rotation of the shaft I8 by the pump operating shaft 23 will rotate the sprocket drums 38 and 88 and feed the tapes l8 and I3, respectively, downwardly, at the same time rotating the lower take-up spools II and I8 through the medium of the train of gears heretofore described. Windows W and W are provided in the front wall of the casing adiacent the tapes for rendering visible the indicia on said tapes as they are fed past the same.

The inner end of the rod 32 projects inwardly through the bearing l8 of the shaft l8 and is adapted to cooperate with the lower end of a switch lever 88 fulcrumed at 88 to a suitable bracket 88 in the casing. The upper end of the of this shaft has keyed thereto a second gear 32 lever terminates in a contact member 8| cooperating with a complementary electrode 82 provid ed on the lower end of a lever 83 pivoted to the bracket 88 as at 83 to close a circuit (Fig. 13) to a pair of electric motors M and M. The shaft of motor M carries a gear 88 adapted to mesh with a complementary gear 88 provided on the spool 8, while shaft of motor M carries a similar gear 81 adapted to mesh with a complementary gear 88 on the spool [8 to rewind the tapes l8 and I3 upon their respective spools after each operation of the pump when the nozzleis placed upon its hook.

The .solenoid 38 is also energized by the switch mechanism 8|, 82 to retract the plunger 31 into the cylinder of the solenoid thereby sliding the gears 33 and 33 carried by shaft 38 to the right of Fig. l to disengage said gears from their complementary gears 28 and 32, respectively, thus permitting the motors M and M to rewind the tapes onto their upper spools while allowing the lower spools to rotate freely.

A link member 88 secured to the lever 83 at a point intermediate the ends thereof is connected to the upper arm of a bell-crank 18 pivoted to the bracket 88 at H. The end of the lower arm of bell-crank I8 has attached'thereto the lower ends of a pair of cords or cables 12 and 13 running over pulleys 13. The upper end of the cord 13 is connected to the end of a brake lever I8 (Fig. 2) ,which cooperates with a brake drum 18 on the shaft of motor M. This brake lever is suitably pivoted at 11 and terminates at its other end in a contact member 18 which cooperates with an electro-magnet 18. The upper end of cord 12 is connected to a brake lever 88 cooperating with a brake drum 8| on the shaft of motor M and as in the case of brake lever 18, this brake lever 88 is also similarly pivoted and terminates in a contact member cooperating with an electro-magnet 82, as will hereinafter more fully appear.

83 represents a pair of light bulbs suitably mounted on a bracket 83 in the casing I immediately in back of the tapes i8 and I3, preferably at a point below the hollow shaft i8. These light bulbs cooperate with selenium cells or photoelectric cells 88 on the front wall of the casing in front of the aforementioned tapes (Fig. 2) and in line with said bulbs so as to be energized by the light rays thereof when the stop opening I1 in each of the tapes l8 and I3 comes adjacent said bulbs. The selenium cell in front of tape I3 is in circuit withthe electro-magnet l8, and selenium cell in front of tape I8 is in circuit with electro-magnet 82. Thus when said openings H in the tapes come adjacent the respective lights, said cells will be energized to rock the brakes 88 and 18 upon their fulcrums and stop the motors M and M. This movement of the brakes will pull the cords 12 and I3 upwardly, and through the medium of the bell-crank l8 and link 88, will break the contacts 8| and 82 to the motors and light bulbs and deenergize the solenoid 38.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a stop mechanism for use on the sprocket drum 88 to arrest the upward travel of the tape |3 simultaneously with the application of the brake to the motor M. This mechanism comprises a lever 88 pivoted at one end as at 81 and terminating at its other end in a bent portion 88 adapted to enter into a deep notch 88 on the periphery of the drum 88 along one edge thereof. Spring 88 on the underside of the lever 88 normally forces the latter downwardly in engagement with the notch 88. The 1.8

arrasas upper face of the lever intermediate its ends is provided with a contact member 9i cooperating with an electro-magnet 92 also energized by the switch mechanism 9|, 92 so that when the motor M starts to rewind the tape I4, the bent portion of the sprocket braking lever 99 will be lifted out of the notch 99 to permit the drum to rotate freely in clockwise direction by virtue of the engagement between the sprocket teeth 99 and openings 51 in the tape. However, when the circuit to the motor M is broken by the switch mechanism heretofore described, the circuit to the electro-magnet 92 will also be broken to allow the lever 99 to be pulled downwardly by its spring into engagement with notch 99.

While I have shown and described the stop mechanism as' applied to the sprocket drum 99, it will be understood that a similar mechanism is provided on the sprocket drum 49 for arresting the volume tape I9 and operates in a similar manner.

93 represents a price tape wound at its upper end on a spool 94 mounted on a short transverse shaft 95 in the side of the casing, the other end of the tape extending downwardly and being wound on a lower spool 96 mounted on another short shaft 91 at asuitable point below the shaft 95. The outer ends of these shafts project through the side wall of the casing and terminate in crank portions forming handles 99 and 99, respectively. Tape 93 is adjustable vertically between the spools and is provided with suitable indicia to indicate through a window opening I99 the current price of gasoline.

Having described the construction of the preferred form of my invention, its operation is as follows:

Assuming that the price of the gasoline is twenty cents per gallon as shown through the window I99 and that the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1, with the cost tape I4 carrying indicia based on the twenty cent computation. The nozzle 5 is removed from the hook 49 permitting inner spring. to force the rod 42 spools II and I6, respectively.

As the tapes are wound on the lower spools II and It at a uniform rate by the train of gears 25, 29, 29, 33 and 49, the diameters of the spools will progressively increase, resulting in an increasing take-up on the tapes, and unless provision is made to counteract this increasing takeup and consequent longitudinal strain on the tapes, said tapes will break. In Figs. 9 and 10, I have shown for this purpose coil springs S on the spools II and I9; these springs are secured at one end to the cores of the respective spools and their free ends are secured to the lower ends of the tapes I9 and I4. Thus, with continued windings of the lower spools, the increasing takeup on the tapes will be compensated for by the compression of the springs 8 about the cores of the spools.

When the desired volume of gasoline has been delivered, as shown in the window W, the pumping mechanism is stopped and the nozzle is replaced on its hook 43, thereby forcing the rod 42 inwardly to disengage the gears 49 and SI from gears 49 and 54, respectively. The inner end of therodwillrocktheswltchleverllagalnstthe complementary contact member 92 to close the circuit to the motors M and M and will energize the solenoid 99 to retract the plunger 91 there- In, thereby disengaging gears 99 and 94 from gears 24 and 92, respectively. The electromagnet 92 will simultaneously be energized to lift the bent portion 99 on the levers 99 out of the notch 99 on the drums 49 and 99 to allow the tapes I9 and I4 to be rewound upon their upper spools by the motors until the openings Il come adjacent the light bulbs for energizing the selenium cells. As heretofore explained, this automatically closes the circuit to the electromagnets 92 and I9 for applying the brakes 99 and II, respectively, of the motors M and M.

Application of the brakes simultaneously rocks bell-crank I9 upwardly by means of the cables 12 and I9 to move contact member 92 on switch lever 99 away from member 9|. During this movement of the switch lever, its lower beveled end 99a will ride over the complementary beveled end of a spring latch I9 I (1 provided on the upper end oi a lever I 9| pivoted on the bracket 99 and will be latched in this position. The unlatching of the switch lever 93 is controlled by a collar I92 slidably mounted on the hollow shaft I9 adjacent its inner end and adapted to slide longitudinally with the inner rod 42 by means of a transverse pin I99 which extends from the rod through longitudinal slots I94 in shaft I9. When the rod 42 is in its innermost position, the collar I92 engages under a leaf spring I99 on the underside of the latch lever I9I to raise the latter into latching position. However, when the rod is moved outwardly toward the left, as hereinbefore described, the collar I92 will slide out of engagement with the spring I99 and permit latch lever I9I to drop downwardly onto its stop lug I96 on the bracket 99. Spring I91 will then return the switch lever It to its normal position with its contact member 92 ready to be actuated by the complementary contact 9| when the nozzle is replaced on the book 49.

From the foregoing it'will be observed that I have provided a registering mechanism which is entirely automatic in its operation and wherein such mechanism is accurate in its performance.

In order to adapt my invention to varying prices at which the gasoline may be sold, I provide a relatively wide cost tape I4a as shown in Fig. 8. This tape is wound at its upper end on an upper spool Iia mounted onshaft 9a and is divided into a transverse series of computing zones based on different computations. In this form of my invention, the window opening extends entirely across the width of tape Ma, and adjacent thereto, I provide a suitable indicator I99 mounted on a guide I99 and adapted to be slidable thereon to any of the computing zones on the tape I441. The volume tape I9a wound on the upper spool 9a in this form of my invention is the same as that shown in Fig. 1 with the window W for bringing the indicia into view.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 11, I have eliminated the use of the train of gears and solenoid actuated clutch for the lower spools and have substituted therefor a pair of endless belts H9 and H9 running over pulleys I29 and I2I, respectively, keyed to shaft 39a adjacent the tapes I9 and I4. These belts extend downwardly onto pulleys I22 and I23 provided on shaft I2a adjacent the spools Ila and I60, respectively. In this form of my invention, shaft 39a is operatively connected to the vertical pump operating 15 shaft 24a by means of a bevel gear I meshing with a complementary bevel gear IN on shaft 24w, so that both shafts will rotate in unison to take up the lower ends of the tapes IM and Na by the belt and pulley arrangement above described, With continued windings of the tapes on to their lower spools, the diameters of said spools will'progressivel'y increase as explained in connection with Figs. '9 and 10. However, the strain on the tapes occasioned by such increasing diameters will be relieved by reason of the slippage of the belts over their respective pulleys. and on the return movement of the tapes onto their upper spools hereinbefore described in connection with Fig. 1, the belts H8 and II! will also slip over their pulleys, inasmuch as during this movement of the tapes, the shafts a and "a are stationary.

In Fig. 7 I have illustrated a modified form of braking mechanism for the tape in place of that shown on the sprocket drum in Fig. 6. This braking mechanism comprises a pivoted brake lever illl immediately in front of the tape l4 and adapted to cooperate with a block i ll immediately in back of said tape. The other end of the brake lever is adapted to cooperate with an elec tro-magnet H2 so that when the magnet is energized, the brake lever will be rocked out of engagement with the tape to permit the motors M and M to wind the tape on the upper spools. when the magnet is deenergized, a spring H3 interposed between a suitable bracket H4 and the lever illl rocks the latter into frictional engagement with the tape.

In the form of my invention shown in Fig. 1, I preferably employ metallic tapes so that when the mechanism is in operation to feed the tapes downwardly on to the lower spools II and ii, the light rays from the bulbs i 'lfor actuating the selenium cells will be intercepted. However, the tapes may be composed of any suitable resilient material which will similarly intercept the ray of light.

I may, if desired, use tapes of any non-conducting material such as shown in Fig. 4, and instead of the selenium cell arrangement I employ oppositely disposed contact rollers II! and 6 on the front and back of the tapes, respectively, normally urged toward each other by any suitable spring means. During the rewinding operation of the tapes onto their upper spools, when the openings IIa come adjacent the rolls; said rolls will complete the circuit to the brake applying mechanism as heretofore described, in connection with the selenium cell arrangement.

In Fig. I have shown a similar embodiment of contact rollers Ilia and I "a but wherein the tapes are metallic and coated with any suitable insulating material H1. The insulating material is removed at a point corresponding to the opening lla to permit contact of the rolls with the metallic tape for completing the circuit to the brakes.

The indicia on the tapes "I and I4 may be applied in any suitable manner such as by perforations or printing the same thereon. However, in order to minimize the lengths of the tapes, such indicia may be greatly reduced in size and in Fig. 12 I have shown suitable mechanism applied to tape I4, for example, for magnifying such indicia and projecting the same onto screens I" located immediately in back of the windows W and W and in front of the respective tapes. A pair of electric lights I21 immediately in back of the tapes cooperate with magnifying lenses I28 interposed between the tapes and screens. Thus, as the tapes are fed v past the lights, the indicia will be magnified and projected onto the screens.

From the foregoing, it is believed that the construction and advantages of my invention may be readily understood by those. skilled in the art without further description, it being borne in mind that numerous changes may be made in the details disclosed without departing from the spirit of my invention as set out in the following claims:

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Registering mechanism including supply and take-up spool members, register tape means wound on said supply spool and secured at its opposite end to 'said take-up spool, sprocket mechanism for paying out said tape from said supply spool onto said take-up spool, a prime mover for operating said sprocket mechanism, a clutch for connecting and disconnecting said sprocket and said prime mover, an electric motor for returning said tape to normal position, a switch mechanism controlled by said clutch for actuating said motor, whereby upon the release of said clutch, said tape will be rewound upon its supply spool, braking mechanism for said motor, means for actuating said brake mechanism, whereby when said tape has returned to a predetermined position by said motor, said braking mechanism will stop the latter, and means for positively preventing overrunning of the tape beyond its predetermined position.

2. Mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said last named means comprises a brake mechanism on said sprocket.

3. Mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein said last named means comprises a friction brake cooperating with said tape.

4. Registering mechanism including register tape means, supply spool means on one end of said register tape, take-up spool means on the other end of said tape, a sprocket drum for paying out said tape from said supply spool, a. prime mover for winding said tape onto said take-up spool, a clutch for connecting and disconnecting said sprocket drum and said prime mover, a second clutch for connecting and disconnecting said prime mover and said take-up spool, an electric motor for returning said tape to normal position, and a switch mechanism controlled by said first-named clutch for actuating said motor and for releasing said second named clutch, whereby upon closing of said switch, said tape will be rewound upon its supply spool.

5. Registering mechanism including register tape means, supply spool means on one end of said register tape, take-up spool means on the other end of said tape, a sprocket drum for paying out said tape from said supply spool, a prime mover for winding said tape onto said take-up spool, a clutch for connecting and disconnecting said sprocket drum and said prime mover, a second clutch for connecting and disconnecting said prime mover and said take-up spool, an electric motor for returning said tape to normal position, a switch mechanism controlled by said firstnamed clutch for actuating said motor and for releasing said second named clutch, whereby upon closing of said switch, said tape will be rewound upon its supply spool, braking mecha nism for said motor, means for actuating said brake mechanism, means for positively prevent:

ing overrunning of the tape beyond a predetermined position, and means actuated by said motor brake mechanism for opening said switch.

6. Registering mechanism including register tape means, supply spool means on one end of said register tape, take-up spool means on the other end of said tape, a sprocket drum for paying out said tape from said supply spool, a prime mover for winding said tape onto said take-up spool, a clutch for connecting and disconnecting said sprocket drum and said prime mover, a second clutch for connecting and disconnecting said prime mover and said take-up spool, an electric motor for returning said tape to normal position, a switch mechanism controlled by said firstnamed clutch for actuating said motor and for releasing said second named clutch, whereby upon closing of said switch, said tape will be rewound upon its supply spool, braking mechanism for said motor, a light ray actuated switch controlled by said tape for actuating said brake, means for positively preventing overrunning of the tape beyond a predetermined position, and means actuated by said motor brake for opening said switch.

7. Registering mechanism as claimed in claim 6 including a light bulb and an opening in said tape, whereby when said opening comes adjacent said light bulb, said light actuated switch will be energized.

8. Registering mechanism including a register tape, a spool on one end of said tape, take-up supply spool on the other end of said tape, a sprocket drum for paying out said tape from said supply spool, a prime mover for winding said tape onto said take-up spool, a clutch for connectin and disconnecting said sprocket drum and said prime mover, a second clutch for connecting and disconnecting said prime mover and said take-up spool, an electric motor for returning said tape to normal position on said supply spool, means for engag'ng and disengaging said first-named clutch, a switch mechanism actuated upon the release of said first-named clutch for actuating said motor, a solenoid actuated by said switch mechanism for releasing said second named clutch, braking mechanism for said motor. a selenium cell controlled by said tape for actuating said braking mechanism, brake mechanism on said sprocket drum for positively preventing overrunning of the tape beyond a predetermined position, means actuated by said motor brake for opening said switch, and means controlled by said first-named clutch mechanism for locking said switch in open position.

9. Registering mechanism as claimed in claim 8, wherein said tape comprises a series of transversely spaced registering zones based on diflercnt computations, a light bulb, and an opening in said tape so located relative to said predetermined position of said tape that when said opening comes adjacent said light bulb, said selenum cell will be energized.

10. Mechanism as claimed in claim 8 including means for releasing said switch lock upon the engagement of said first-named clutch with said sprocket drum.

1i. Registering mechanism including an insulated register tape, a supply spool on one end of said tape, a take-up spool on the other end of said tape, a sprocket drum for paying out said tape from said supply spool, a prime mover for winding said tape onto said take-up spool, a clutch on said prime mover for connecting and disconnecting said sprocket drum and said prime mover, means for shifting said clutch into and out of engagement with said sprocket drum, a second clutch for connecting and disconnecting said prime mover and said take-up spool, an electric motor for returning said tape to normal position on said supply spool, a switch mechanism eil'ective upon the release of said firstnamed clutch for actuating said motor, a solenoid actuated by said switch mechanism for releasing said second named clutch, braking mechanism for said motor, a second switch controlled by said tape for actuating said braking mechanism, braking mechanism on said sprocket drum for preventing overrunning oi the tape beyond a predetermined position, means actuated by said motor brake for opening said first-named switch, means for latching said switch in open position, and means on said prime mover effective upon the engagement of said first-named clutch for unlatching said switch.

12. Registering mechanism as claimed in claim 11 wherein said second named switch comprises a pair of oppositely disposed contact members, and an opening in said tape for permitting engagement of said members to close the circuit to said motor braking mechanism for energizing the latter.

13. A registering mechanism including supply and take-up spool members, tape means wound on said supply spool and secured at its opposite end to said take-up spool, means for paying out said tape irom said supply spool onto said takeup spool, a prime mover for operating said paying-out means, means for compensating for the increasing diameter of the windings on said takeup spool, a clutch for connecting and disconnecting said paying-out means and said prime mover, a second clutch for connecting and disconnecting said prime mover and said take-up spool, means for returning said tape to normal position, and means actuated by said first-named clutch for controlling said return means and for releasing said second-named clutch.

14. A registering mechanism including supply and take-up spool members, tape means wound on said supply spool and secured at its opposite end to said take-up spool, means for paying out said tape from said supply spool onto said takeup spool, a prime mover for operating said paying-out means, a clutch for connecting and disconnecting said paying-out means and said prime mover, a second clutch for connecting and disconnecting said prime mover and said take-up spool, means for returning said tape to normal position, means actuated by said first-named clutch for controlling said return means and for releasing said second-named clutch, and mechanism for arresting the return movement of said tape beyond a predetermined point.

CHARLES WALKER. 

